Disclaimer: of course, I don't own these characters (otherwise it wouldn't be a fanfiction, would it?)

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Chapter 3 Unexpected confrontation

Hermione was busy with the party's decorations when the bell rang.

"Who could that possibly be?" she murmured to herself. She walked to the door and opened it. Luna stood there, her hands filled with all kinds of strange things.

"Hi Hermione, I was wandering if you needed some help with the preparations of your party."

"Oh, of course, come in." Hermione smiled and stepped aside so Luna could come in. Luna's gaze went trough the room as she walked in.

"Wow, you've really done a great job already, how did you get your living room this big?"

Hermione smiled, it had cost her quite some efford to get the Enlargmentcharm right. "I used an Enlargementcharm on it. Do you like the decorations?"

"Yes, they're wonderful. Still, would you mind me putting just a little thing here and there, just to finish it off?"

"It'd be great if you could do that. Then I'll start working on the snacks in the kitchen."

Luna took some things from the pile she had brought with her and started decorating the room. Hermione went to the kitchen. She had bought so many things to eat, what should she make?

*****

Draco found himself hiding in the bushes next to Hermione's house.

"What am I doing here?" he whispered to himself. He had been there for the last two hours, hoping to catch a glimp of Hermione. He saw Luna Lovegood entering the house with lots of stuff, but he hadn't seen Hermione. "I'm acting like some teenager, and I've also started to talk to myself. I might as well just check in to St. Mungo immediately."

Draco decided to go back to his house, but just when he stood up, two persons were walking towards Hermione's house. They were Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Unfortunately, they saw him and started yelling.

"Hey, isn't that Draco Malfoy?" Ron whispered to Harry. "What's he doing here?"

"I don't know, Ron. But I don't think it'll be anything good."

"Hey, Malfoy, what are you doing here?" Ron's voice sounded angry.

"I might ask you the same question, Weasley", Draco said icily.

"We are here, Malfoy, for Hermione's party. You're next to her house, if you didn't know that yet", Harry was just as annoyed as Ron.

"I already knew that, Potter", oh, I shouldn't have said that, Draco thought.

"So then why were you hiding in the bushes next to Hermione's house?" Ron seemed very suspicious.

"That's none of your business." Draco noticed Ron was about to draw his wand.

"Be careful, Malfoy", Ron spitted out that last word. "You might get hurt if you don't pay attention."

"Ron, relax", Harry said. "We're not here for a fight, let's just go inside."

Draco knew he should be careful, but still he couldn't help it when he said: "Yes, Weasley, listen to your pal and go inside quickly, or I might curse you."

"That's it!" Ron shouted. He drew his wand and tried to curse Draco, who quickly evaded the spell.

"You have to be quicker if you want to catch me, Weasley", in the meantime, Draco had also drawn his wand.

"I'm faster than you are!" Ron fired another curse at Draco, but it missed again. Then suddenly the door of Hermione's house opened and she came running towards them. Draco stared at her for just a second, and she stared back at him. He was stunned at the sight of her, but Ron's voice got him out of his trance.

"I'm going to kill you!" Ron's head was as red as his hair.

Draco shouted "Protego!" and disapperated. His heart was still rapidly bouncing in his chest when he arrived at the Manor.

*****

Hermione heard voices outside.

"I'm just going to check it out, Luna, stay here."

"Yeah, I'm still busy anyway."

Hermione opened her door and saw Ron, Harry and a third person she didn't recognise from this distance. It seemed like Ron was firing spells on the other person.

"Ron, what's happening?" she yelled, but nor Ron, nor Harry, nor the third person could hear her, they were too far away. So she started running to them, her gaze fixed upon that strange person who was duelling with Ron. When she was about thirty feet away, she suddenly knew who he was. It was Draco Malfoy. What on earth was he doing here? Of all places he could be, he had to be here. She stopped running and stared at Draco. He saw her, or at least she thought he did, and then he shouted "Protego!" and disapperated.

"You bastard, I'll get you!" Ron yelled.

Hermione was still staring at the place where Draco had been standing seconds ago. Hundreds of questions came up in her mind, but she suppressed them.

"Ron, ron", Hermione ran up to him. "Are you all right?"

"No! I'm not all right! That son of a bitch managed to get away!"

"What did he do to you? Why did you start duelling?" Hermione still couldn't believe she just had seen Draco standing next to her house.

"He was over there", Ron pointed to the bushes. "I asked him what he was doing here, but he wouldn't tell me, so Harry told him he was next to your house. Then he still didn't want to tell what he was doing here, so I wanted to attack him, but Harry stopped me. I would've gone with Harry, if that stupid mongol hadn't insulted me."

"So you just attacked him because he insulted you, Ron?" Hermione was mad. "I thought you had learned to control your temper!"

"Oh, come on, Mione. You know that little rat. He's always looking for a fight, I just gave him one."

"Ronald Weasley, don't try to blame someone else. If you could've controlled your temper, you wouldn't have been in danger. Draco isn't breaking any law when he's hiding in the bushes next to my house, so just leave him."

"Wait", Harry said. "Did you just call him Draco? Hermione, are you sure we're talking about the same person? This is Draco Malfoy, the guy who always provoked you at Hogwarts."

What? Did I call him Draco? Why? Hermione tried to think of a reasonable answer to Harry's question. It'd be best if she only answered the last one.

"Yes, I'm sure we're talking about the same person. I only know one Draco Malfoy. Now, shall we go inside? There are some things that still have to be done and I could use your help. The guests will be here in less than one hour."

Harry noticed Hermione didn't answer his first question, but he didn't dare to ask why. She sounded a little furious just then and he didn't want to be cursed by Hermione.

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Okay, that's chapter three. Hope you like it. If you feel like it, please review.